Introduction

This
orientation will introduce you to the course content and expectations for
BOT
201 Advanced Keyboarding & Document Processing Online. You'll also have a chance to make sure everything is set
up and ready to go. While you work through this orientation, jot down
any questions you might have and post them to our course HELP Discussion
Board. I recommend that you print this page, and check each item off as
you complete it.

What to do for this assignment

Print this page and mark each item as you
complete it.

Enroll in the course. You enroll for this
online course the same way you enroll in any other Cuyamaca College
course. You will need to be enrolled in the course before you can
access the course Blackboard site.

If you want to add the class after the
start date, you need to contact the instructor for an authorization add
code.

Buy the textbook and install the software. You can buy the
book at the campus bookstore, or from another source.
You will need it on the first day of class. This course teaches
advanced keyboarding and document processing using either Microsoft Word
2010 or 2013. If you already have either Word
2010 or 2013 on your computer, you're ready. If you don't
have Word, there are options to download a trial version or
purchase an it at an educational discount. (See below for
more details about the required course materials
and software.)

Login to Blackboard. Oneday before class
begins, those who have enrolled will be entered into the Blackboard
system. If
you enrolled successfully in the class, you should now be
able to access the class. If you register for the class less
than one week prior to class starting, you must contact me
to be entered into the Blackboard system. If you want to add
the class after the start date, you need to contact the
instructor for an authorization add code.

How to login to
Blackboard
(available one day before class begins)A. Go to http://gcccd.blackboard.com
(click on this link or the
Blackboard Login
link in the web page navigation at the left side of this
page)
B. Click the Login button
C. For Username enter your name as firstname.lastname (all
lower case)
D. For Password enter your birthday (mmddyy)E. If you cannot login successfully the first
time, try it again. Your login information is the same as
when you login to any computer on campus. If you still have
trouble logging in, STOP and contact me
(pat.newman@gcccd.edu). Do not panic, we'll get it fixed. Do
not click the create an account button as this will only complicate matters and
delay your first login.

Successful login! Now that you have logged in,
welcome to the course. Read the Welcome announcement. This
announcement contains helpful information on how the course works and
where to start.

Update your personal information.
I regularly send class announcements and email through Blackboard. It is
very important you keep your email address current in order to receive
these communications. Please login to WebAdvisor, click on STUDENTS,
then UPDATE PERSONAL INFORMATION and list your preferred email address
and the telephone number where I can reach you if needed. WebAdvisor
updates BlackBoard nightly, so it's important to keep current
information in WebAdvisor.

Print the syllabus.
In the Blackboard course
site, click on the Course Information
button. Click on the
syllabus link. Print the syllabus and keep it with your textbook. You
may need to save the syllabus and then open it to print it. READ
the whole syllabus (you will need to answer questions on the quiz).
The syllabus is also available on the instructor's website
www.cuyamaca.edu/pat.newman.

Familiarize yourself with the course web site by
clicking on all of the links (buttons) in the course navigation on the left side of the
course website.
There are also several links on the web pages that display. Browse through
them thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the entire course
website.

Begin on the course assignments. Turn to
the Assignments page in your syllabus and begin on the assignments in the order they are
listed. You can turn in assignments early. See instructions for submitting assignments
by clicking "How to Upload your keyboarding assignments"
link on the Course Information page in the class website. The due dates for each assignment are listed in the
syllabus.

If you still have
questions AFTER completing all of the items above, email me at
pat.newman@gcccd.edu
and tell me exactly what you need help with. Be very
specific with your question. I will ask you if you completed
the orientation items listed above. Include the COURSE AND
SECTION NUMBERS in the Subject Line of your email, as email
can get filtered as junk and this will help me to recognize
your email message.

Advice from BOT online students

Keep up with the class. The biggest problem online students
have is gradually falling behind. You lose points when assignments are
late, and you may be dropped from the class if you get behind. This
class is 16 weeks in length and all work must be completed by
the class end date.

Schedule at least 5-7 hours per week to focus on the class.
Some students may need more or less time, so you can make adjustments
based on your skill level.

Don't wait until the last minute to start an assignment. If you run
into a problem, it may take time to get help, especially for technical
issues.

Contact your instructor as soon as you begin to have problems
or if you decide to drop.